133. Can Ozempic Eradicate Your Addictions? The Science of Semaglutide and Its Power to Curb Cravings for Alcohol, Nicotine, and Beyond

Are you tired of struggling with weight loss and the seemingly never-ending battle against cravings and addictive behaviors? Well, we have exciting news for you! 

A new class of weight loss drugs has emerged, and they're changing the game when it comes to shedding those stubborn pounds. 

One such revolutionary drug is Ozempic, and it holds incredible potential in curbing addictive behaviors.

Explore the fascinating potential of GLP one drugs like Ozempic, Wagovy, and Maunjaro. These medications have shown promise in reducing cravings and addictive behaviors associated with alcohol, nicotine, and even soothing.

This week on HealthBite, we are talking about reports that the new class of weight loss drugs referred to by the public as Ozempic are seemingly curbing people's appetites for alcohol, nicotine and even shopping. 

What You'll Learn From this Episode:

• Uncover the groundbreaking science behind GLP1 drugs like Ozempic and how they work to reduce hunger and curb addictive behaviors.
• The science behind GLP1 drugs and how they work to reduce hunger and affect dopamine pathways in the brain.
• The opportunity to break free from the grip of addictive behaviors and experience newfound confidence and freedom.

Ways that Dr. Adrienne Youdim Can Support You

1. Join the Monthly Free Mind-Body Workshops: Participate in engaging mind-body practices designed to help manage your stress response. Register here.
2. Sign Up for the Newsletter: Stay updated with valuable insights and resources by subscribing to the newsletter. Sign up here.
3. Freebie alert. Register for our monthly free MindBody Workshop and receive a downloadable guide on emotional labeling to help you manage your emotions effectively.

Connect with Dr. Adrienne Youdim

• Website :https://www.dradriennespeaks.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dradrienneyoudim/

Transcript

Will Ozempic Kill your Addiction

We already know that ozempic will kill your appetite but will it kill your addiction. 

This week on HealthBite we are talking about reports that the new class of weight loss drugs referred to by the public as ozempic are seemingly curbing people's appetites for alcohol, nicotine and even shopping. Stay turned to hear the science in actionable bites served up for your health and wellbeing.

Welcome back to Healthbite, the podcast for small actionable bites towards healthy living. 

I believe your relationship with food is a window into your relationship with yourself. In this podcast we will explore how to redefine this relationship so you can not only achieve your weight loss goals, but greater mental, emotional and physical wellbeing. In the end, that’s what its all about, isnt it?

I am your host Dr Adrienne Youdim and am excited to share with you this week's bite.

First let me say that I don’t love using the word addiction loosely. The label “addiction” is defeating and can take away a sense of agency - the sense that we have the capacity to change our behavior.

At the same time, not identifying with an addiction like for example not being an alcoholic can de-incetivize people from making change. For example, “I’m not an alcoholic, so why should I question my relationship with alcohol. 

We dont need to have an addiction or identify as a a-holic of anything before we contemplate change. 

Basically the labels dont serve us. 

That being said, it is true that there are differences in peoples relationships with substances (and I use this to mean any thing that we can potentially use to soothe or distract ourselves. )

For example- some people can really have just one bite of cake while other people feel compelled to eat the whole slice or to eat 2 slices of cake. Its not a matter of self control but of desire. 

Some people can have one or 2 chips or cookies or none at all,  while others find themselves eating one after another until they have eaten the entire bag. 

And some people have a take it or leave it attitude regarding alcohol at a cocktail party, while others cannot imagine not drinking at a party or find themselves needing multiple drinks to “take the edge off” at the end of every night.

Of course there are addictions that are less casual than these But it is all a part of a spectrum, variations again in the need for something external to soothe. 

So how does this relate to ozempic- the name that has come to represent an entire class of drugs that have been magic in terms of weight loss. 

 For the first time, really in the history of medicine, we have drugs that have resulted in really significant weight loss, in some cases as high as 20-25% or a quarter of ones body weight. 

But now, doctors like myself have noticed a kinda cool side effect, in that patient’s are not only reporting reduced hunger for food but also a reduced desire and craving for other stuff like smoking, shopping and alcohol. 

Now having prescribed these drugs regularly for over a year, I have had many patients tell me “I used to drink 1 or 2 glasses of wine with dinner and now I can't even get through one. Or I used to easily drink several cocktails when I went out and now I don't even want one.

Long before the Tiktok craze over these drugs, scientists had shown in animal studies that GLP-1 receptor agonists (which is the scientific name for this class of drugs) reduced consumption of alcohol, nicotine, even cocoaine!

So how does it work?

As I have described in previous podcasts GLP1 is a hormone that is released by the gut, primarily by the intestines as a normal response to food intake. This hormone then signals to the pancreas a need for insulin, which is why they are used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. 

GLP1 also signal to the brain that food has been received and therefore reduce hunger cues. Reduced hunger means less food is consumed so people lose weight

But it gets more interesting than that because, GLP1 also hits on areas in the brain that are responsible for feelings of rewards and well as reward related behavior- like seeking out more of a substance like food. 

These drugs have shown not only to affect hunger centers in the but to effect dopamine pathways in the brain reducing the release of dopamine as well as the effect that dopamine has in areas of the brain like the amygdala which is involved in emotional regulation 

As well as  in the hippocampus and hypothalamus - areas of the brain responsible for the desire for palatable foods resulting in a decrease in drive and consumption of highly yummy foods.

Changes dopamine have also been seen in response to alcohol use following the administration of these drugs. 

And animals who became habituated to alcohol showed a reduced preference for alcohol after the drug was given to them. They also reduced their overall consumption alcohol as well as binge-like use of alcohol (yes they can create binge drinkers out of rats.) Both alcohol dependent and non-dependent animals showed reduced seeking and consuming of alcohol after the drug was given.

More recently, small studies have shown similar findings in humans where those using GLP1 agonists significantly reduced their drinking more than those who were treated with cognitive behavioral therapy. 

Similar neurochemical changes were shown in the brains of animals who were dependent on amphentamines and cocaine. Meaning there was a change in dopamine pathways in animals who were administered the drug and that resulted in a change in their behavior- they were less likely to seek out the drug ie cocaine, even if they were habituated or “addicted” to it.

SO it appears that GLP-1 drugs like ozempic and wegovy and mounjaro not only decreases food intake, AND the desire and craving for palatable food but also can decrease cocaine, amphetamine, alcohol, and nicotine use in animal models. 

What is super fascinating tho is that it does not even stop there and there is evidence that it may help control overly-sexual behaviors and as I mentioned there are reports that also compulsive behaviors like shipping and nail bitting has also stopped in users of these drugs. 

It must be reiterated that human studies in these other domains are small if not negligible and that the FDA has not looked into the use of these drugs for other quote addictions. What also must be said is that as amazing as it sounds, these drugs are still relatively new and it will take time to truly know the long term impact of these drugs as so the use of these drugs or any drugs for that matter should not be taken lightly. I don't take prescribing of these drugs lightly and I always educate and counsel my patients the same. BUT I must say, as a physician interested in prevention, health and welllbeing and awareness of all these ways we use substances to soothe, I am pretty darn excited about this data. 

Well thats a wrap for this week.  Thank you for joining me on this week’s healthbite. If you like what I am doing here please share this podcast with someone you love and please head over to wherever you podcast and share a review. I would be most appreciative. 

See you again next week on healthbite.